Happy Tuesday, y’all! This week, Jana from That Artsy Reader Girl is asking us to share books that feature travel. I’ve done that a few times. Whether it’s traveling around a state (like Michigan), a country (like the USA or Canada), just going on a road trip (here), or books that feature travel locations (here). I decided to twist the topic to suit me. I’ve found I enjoy reading books that have been translated into English. So let’s get lost in translation!
In recent years, I’ve found myself reading more translated fiction. Through reading translated works, I feel like I’m learning more about other cultures. I worked to keep one book per author. I didn’t include manga, but it is certainly great translated fiction. You’ll also notice the lack of Backman and Jonasson. Several of these books aren’t as widely known. If you’re looking for more information about the books listed below? The titles will take you to Goodreads.
Now, let’s get lost in translation!
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald
- Translator: Alice Menzies
- Language Translated From: Swedish
- Genre: Contemporary
- Release Date: September 2013
- Note: This book is set mainly in the USA, and is translated from Swedish to English by a Canadian.
Montalbano’s First Case and Other Stories by Andrea Camilleri
- Translator: Stephen Sartarelli
- Language Translated From: Italian
- Genre: Mystery, Crime, Short Story Anthology
- Release Date: January 2008
- Note: Technically, this is book 8.5 in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone.
The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg
- Translator: Rod Bradbury
- Language Translated From: Swedish
- Genre: Contemporary
- Release Date: January 2012
The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn
- Translator: Melody Shaw
- Language Translated From: German
- Genre: Contemporary, Books
- Release Date: November 2020
Reykjavik by Ragnar Jónasson and Katrín Jakobsdóttir
- Translator: Victoria Cribb
- Language Translated From: Icelandic
- Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction
- Release Date: January 2022
The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir
- Translator: Mary Robinette Kowal
- Language Translated From: Icelandic
- Genre: Thriller, Horror, Novella
- Release Date: October 2021
- Note: Don’t blame me if you get angry with the ending of this book!
Time to Rise by Helene Holmström
- Translator: Marlaine Delargy
- Language Translated From: Swedish
- Genre: Romance, Christmas
- Release Date: November 2021
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum
- Translator: Shanna Tan
- Language Translated From: Korean
- Genre: Contemporary, Slice of Life
- Release Date: January 2022
The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
- Translator: Jesse Kirkwood
- Language Translated From: Japanese
- Genre: Magical Realism, Short Stories
- Release Date: July 2020
Brightly Shining by Ingvild H. Rishøi
- Translator: Caroline Waight
- Language Translated From: Norwegian
- Genre: Christmas, Novella
- Release Date: November 2021
Punished by Ann-Helén Laestadius
- Translator: Rachel Willson-Broyles
- Language Translated From: Swedish
- Genre: Historical Fiction, Indigenous
- Release Date: January 2023
- Note: This is listed as the second in a series, but can be read as a standalone.
So, who’s ready to get lost in translation? Have you read any of these translated works of fiction? What are some of your favorite translated books?
Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my other bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.
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I really should read more translated works!
I’m not sure I’ve ever read a translated book, but there are several on here I want to read. No time like the present, eh? Nice list.
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Oh I loved The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend. Great twist on the topic.
Love those Nordic thriller authors! Thanks for dropping by my post!
The Full Moon Coffee Shop looks interesting.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
I’ve only heard of the Japanese and Korean literature on your list and I have both on my TBR! ButThe Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules looks like a really fun read 😂 That cover is attention grabbing, for sure! Great variety of books!
I was reading Hyunam-Dong Bookshop and then got distracted! Door to Door Bookstore was lovely.
Great twist on the topic!!! Here is my post https://paigesofnovels.wordpress.com/2025/05/20/top-ten-tuesday-authors-that-live-in-the-us/
Oooh, great take on today’s topic! I love reading translated fiction; it’s really a great way to see the world through the eyes of a different culture.
Have you read anything by Helene Tursten? I read her book An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed (translated from Swedish) and it was highly amusing.
I haven’t, but I’ll have to look into some of her books.
Pam
I need to read more translated works to expand my brain! I am highlighting several of your books in hopes I can read them soon. Starting with th Korean bookstore one.
I hope these suggestions lead to finding some new to you authors that you adore.
Pam
I added Helene Holmström’s to my cart just now because I keep forgetting that’s one I need to read! It looks and sounds like such fun. I think I’ve read, maybe, two books that were translated. Both were books I quite enjoyed. 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting my list today!
I have Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop on my shelf and hope to get to it soon! It’s a wonderful goal to read more translated books 🙂
I like a translated work. I haven’t read as many as I would like though. I’ve read 3 translated from Japanese, 1 Swedish and 1 Finish.
I think the most translated work I read is from Sweden because Backman! Great post!
OOh intriguing topic choice! I don’t think I have too many books that were translated from another language. I know I’ve one author’s books on my TBR still that was originally in German I think?
Thanks for visiting my TTT!
I have Punished on my list to read; I didn’t know it was the second in a series. I will have to find out the name of the first one.
I loved The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend. Great list!
The first book is called Stolen. I haven’t read it yet, but it has been adapted into a movie on Netflix. The books are considered a series, but they seem to be more standalones than series.
Pam
I am not sure I have ever read a translated work, but I want to. I just need to figure out how to find them, LOL!
What got me started on reading more translated work was looking at the author’s name. While, that’s not always true, more often than not it leads me in the right direction.
Pam
I love this idea! I really should read more translated fiction (the only one I can think of off the top of my head is Jonas Jonasson!)
I do like a translated book and have read several on your list!
A couple of weeks ago I went to see the movie of Door-to-Door Bookstore. It was made into a family friendly movie and it was nice to watch!
I didn’t know there was an adaptation for Door-to-Door Bookstore. I’ll have too keep an eye out for it.
Pam
I like your twist on this topic! I haven’t read any of these books, but I have read other books by Andrea Camilleri and Ragnar Jónasson – both excellent writers.
I have only heard of the Broken Wheel and Hyuman-Dog Bookshop books on your list and they were already on my TBR. Now I have added many more (well, the rest of them) to my TBR.
My post is here
I’ve been wanting to read The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend for so long! I’m actually hoping to get to it (finally!) this summer!
This is a wonderful list. I love that you focused on translated works. Lately, I’ve read some excellent translated works, and hope to read even more of it this year. I decided to challenge myself to read more books from other countries, especially countries I don’t know much about.